Thawing-point.



"PATENTED DEC. '25, 1906.

UTEBRLAND. THAWING POINT. APPLICATION FILED MAR 31 1906 Ko.' 839,'227.'A

' TIHEEEEIEI 4 1 NITE STATES PATENT-- I To all whom it may concern.-

. vented certain new and useful Improvements -ments; and it'consists ofthe novel construc- .tion and combination of parts hereinafter deing theuse of the point a tight connection oFFroE. 1

JAMES SUTHERLAND, or NOME, nIsTRIor OF ALASKA.

.THAVVIING-POINT.

. Be it known that I, JAMEs SUTHERLAND, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at the city ofsNome, District of Alaska, have ininThawing-Points, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to such improvescribed and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had .to the accompany-- ing drawings, and the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of my improved thawing-point.Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a planview of theclam -plates detached.

It is well known-that go d is founddistributed in gravel-banks and ingravel channels and drifts at more or less depths in Alaska and NorthernCanada, where the gravel is perpetually frozen. I i

Where the gold exists in sufficient quantities to justify the expense,the gravel is thawed by steam, so as to be extracted, and is then placedon dumps on the surface, where the dumps are afterward washed andsluiced with water and the gold saved as soon as the dumps have beenthawed by natural means. A large percentage of placer-mining in Alaskais done in this way.

The method of applying the steam in thawing the gravel is to drive metalpoints into the face of adrift where the ground is frozen and to injectsteam from a boiler through the points, which are made hollow for thispurpose, into the gravel until the ground becomes sufficient y thawed.

My invention relates to improvements in thawing-points adapted for usefor the pur pose stated; and the principal objects of the invention areto provide and maintain durparts in between the body of the pointand'the hose or pipe connecting the point with a source of steam-supply.

Referring to the drawings, wherein my invention is shown in itspreferred form, 1 represents the head of the point, which is formed ofcast or wrought metal, having on its outer end an impact-surface adaptedto receive the Specification of Letters. Patent. Application' filed Mmh31, 1906. Serial in). 309,120.

' Patented. Dec. 25, 1906.

impact of a sledge or mall in driving the point intothe ground. The headis formed with a chamber 2, from which a lateral aperture 3 extends tothe periphery of the head, and the aperture 4 extends to vthe lower endof the head, being adapted to receive the shankor body 5 ofthe pointwhich is welded or otherwise secured therein. The shank or body 5 of thepoint is formed of heavy metal pipe or tubing several feet in length,having its lower end tapered or conical in form, constituting apenetrating-point, as shown at 6, at

the apex of which is the outlet-a erture 7.

Screwed or otherwise secured in t e lateral aperture 3 is one end of apipe or nipple 8, to the other end of which is connected a hose or pipe9, leading from a steam-boiler, The nipple 8 is in the form of an elbowhaving its outer end extending upwardly parallel with and in closeproximity to the head 1, with which it-is connected by a clampcomprising a pair of clamp-plates 10 and 11, formed to embrace betweenthem both the head 1 and the hose-inclosed end of the nipple 8 andadapted to be tightly drawn together by means of the bolts 12 and nuts13, the same clamps serving to secure the hose upon the 7 end of thenipple and to support-and brace the nipple andsecure it to the head.

The clamp may be further connected with the head by insertin screws orpins 14 through apertures 15, ormed in the clampplates, and intoapertures formed to receive them in the head 1.

upper end of the head 1, after which steam is r supplied through thehose 9, passing through the nipple and chamber 2 and out through 5 theaperture 7 at the lower end of the point into the surrounding gravel.The point is allowed to remain in this position for several hours,during which time steam is continuously injected through the point intothe gravel until the desired result is obtained.

By making the nipple in the form of an elbow, as shown, I am able tomaintain the hose connection in a position parallel with the directionof the force applied with the hammer or mall to the head in driving the.point into the frozen ground, as well as to connect the end of thenipple with and sup port'it by the neighboring head 1, which is paralleltherewith, and I am able to greatly relieve thescrew connection or otherconnection between the inner end of the nipple and the head from strain,due to overcoming the inertia of the nipple and hose connection when thehead is subjected to the blows of the sledge or mall. I am thus able toprevent the escape, loosening, or breaking of the nipple at its point ofconnection with the head, and thereby loss of steam and the resultantinterference which would occur with the work of the miners.

The head 1 and body or shank 5 of the point are, in effect, one pieceand may be so made, if desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a thawing-point, the combination with the head having on one end apenetrating-point, and on the opposite end an impactsurface,and providedintermediately of its ends with an inlet-aperture in its side and withafluid passage-way extending from said side aperture to an aperture nearsaid point; of an elbow-shaped metal nipple having its inner end atright angles to the head and secured in said aperture, and its outer endextending parallel with the axis of the head; and a supportingconnection between the outer end of the nipple and the head.

2. In a thawing-point, the combination with the head having aninlet-aperture in its side; of an elbow-shaped nipple having its innerend secured in said aperture and its outer end extending parallel withthe axis of the head; a hose inclosing the outer end of the nipple; anda clamp embracing said hose and hose-inclosed end of the nipple andsecured to said head.

3. In a thawing-point, the combination with the head having an aperturein its side; of an elbow-shaped nipple having its inner end secured insaid aperture and its outer end extending parallel with the axis of thehead; a hose inclosing the outer end of the nipple; a pair ofclamp-plates adapted to receive between certain opposed portions thereofsaid head, and between certain other opposed portions thereof said, hoseand the hoseinclosed end of the nipple; and screw mechanism for securingsaid clamp-plates together and. upon the respective inclosed members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day ofJanuary, 1906.

JAMES SUTHERLAND.

l/Vitnesses:

C. DUDLEY DEAN, C. E. DARLING.

